| Some Effects Of Gestational Diabetes |
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| Written by MosesWright | ||||||
| Wednesday, 30 September 2009 | ||||||
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Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is different from diabetes that existed before a pregnancy which is commonly called pre-existing diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about four percent of pregnancies. Though the cause of gestational diabetes is not completely understood, a hormone that is produced that encourages the growth of the baby can inhibit the ability of the mother's natural insulin to metabolize glucose. Birth defects are not a risk of gestational diabetes since gestational diabetes occurs late in the pregnancy. Since gestational diabetes increases the baby's size, the baby may be at increased risk of injury during birth. If a pregnant woman has gestational diabetes, the newborn may be at an increased risk for breathing problems. Newborns of women with gestational diabetes may also have low blood glucose levels at birth. People whose mothers had gestational diabetes during the pregnancy may be prone to obesity and type II diabetes. Testing for gestational diabetes includes drinking a glucose solution and timed blood testing. A blood sample may be drawn at the beginning of the test. Women are typically tested again an hour after drinking a glucose solution and may be tested after a longer period of time. Gestational diabetes is treated with a diabetic diet. A pregnant woman with gestational diabetes may need to meet with a dietitian who will create a diabetic diet for the pregnant woman to follow. The diabetic diet typically includes three meals and two snacks each day. The diet usually specifies how many servings of each food group should be eaten with each meal and snack. The dietician may provide a food exchange list that includes suggestions and serving sizes for each food group. Multiple times a day, the pregnant woman with gestational diabetes will need to check her blood sugar levels. These readings are then reported to the doctor's office where they will be used to determine if the gestational diabetes is under control. If the gestational diabetes is not effectively managed with a diabetic diet, insulin injections may be necessary. The newborn and mother do not usually have diabetes after birth. Women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of type II diabetes. When the gestational diabetes is managed properly, the lasting effects are minimal.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 November 2009 ) | ||||||
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